Windstream might add jobs in Greenville

GREENVILLE - Greenville lost a corporate headquarters and nearly 50 jobs as a result of the sale of homegrown telecommunications firm NuVox Inc. to Windstream Corp. of Little Rock, Ark. The news could get better going forward, however. Windstream said it could wind up adding jobs in Greenville as it seeks to leverage the former NuVox into a bigger base of business customers.

50 JOBS BEING ADDED AT FOUNTAIN INN PLANT

FOUNTAIN INN - An expansion at the Bosch Rexroth plant will bring 50 new jobs to the Upstate. Bosch Rexroth is moving some of its operations from Texas to the Fountain Inn facility, a company spokeswoman said. The company's Fountain Inn plant now makes industrial hydraulic units, including piston units and pumps.

WOMAN TO DIRECT VA FACILITIES IN CHARLESTON

Sign Up and Save

CHARLESTON - For the first time, a woman has been named to oversee the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Charleston. Carolyn L. Adams was director of the 484-bed VA Medical Center in Salisbury, N.C. In her new role, Adams will oversee more than 1,600 employees at the 117-bed medical center on the peninsula and the VA's four outpatient clinics.

ZINC BEING DROPPED FROM DENTURE CREAM FORMULAS

WASHINGTON - GlaxoSmithKline said Thursday it will remove zinc from its denture cream, following reports that excessive use over many years can cause neurological damage and blood problems in consumers. The British manufacturer will cease manufacturing and marketing Super Poligrip Original, Ultra Fresh and Extra Care products in the U.S. The company plans to reformulate the creams without zinc. The company stressed that the products are safe when used as directed. Glaxo's voluntary action comes as hundreds of patient lawsuits are poised to go to trial, alleging Poligrip caused nerve damage.

U.S. WALMART SALES DOWN IN FOURTH QUARTER

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., one of the recession's biggest beneficiaries, felt the pinch during the fourth quarter as quarterly sales fell at U.S. Walmart stores for the first time. Still, overseas growth and a concerted cost-cutting campaign pushed profit up 22 percent. The discounter, which rode low prices to dominate U.S. retailing, faced tough price competition from rivals during the holidays. That contributed to a decline in customer counts and spending.

TOYOTA LEADER TO TESTIFY AT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING

WASHINGTON - Toyota president Akio Toyoda says he will testify at a congressional hearing next week on the automaker's recalls. Toyoda said Thursday in a statement he looks "forward to speaking directly with Congress and the American people." Toyoda is the grandson of the Japanese automaker's founder. He had said he wasn't planning to attend the hearings but would consider appearing before Congress if invited. Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles globally to address problems with accelerator pedals and brakes.

COMPUTER SECURITY FIRM FINDS INFILTRATION

SAN FRANCISCO - Security experts have found a network of 74,000 virus-infected computers that stole information from inside corporations and government agencies. The find reflects the dangers of having computers with sensitive data connected to the open Internet. More than 2,400 organizations were infiltrated by the "botnet." That is according to the NetWitness Corp. security firm, which discovered it.

The Greenville News, The (Charleston) Post and Courier and The Associated Press contributed